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Exploring children's preferences for graphic symbols to represent pain-related words
Ensa Johnson1, Nina Swanepoel2, Gunilla Thunberg3
1Department of Inclusive Education College of Education, University of South Africa Pretoria South Africa.
Insights
Children with communication challenges often need visual aids like graphic symbols to express pain. This study found children preferred ARASAAC symbols over PCS for pain-related words, highlighting the importance of user preference in communication tool design.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric communication
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Pain management in children
Background:
- Hospitalized children may struggle to verbally report pain due to medical conditions or communication barriers.
- Graphic symbols are crucial augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools for children to express pain and receive treatment.
- Selecting appropriate graphic symbols enhances the effectiveness of visual support for pain communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore preferences of typically developing children (6.0-9.11 years) for graphic symbols representing pain-related words.
- To compare symbol preferences between Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) and Aragonese Portal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ARASAAC) resources.
- To inform the design of effective communication support by considering children's input.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, quantitative study involving 30 typically developing South African children.
- Data collection via an electronic questionnaire.
- Analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine symbol preferences.
Main Results:
- Children significantly preferred ARASAAC symbols over PCS symbols for most pain-related words (p < 0.001).
- The findings indicate a clear preference for one symbol set among the participating children.
- Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these preferences.
Conclusions:
- Children's preferences are vital when selecting or designing graphic symbols for pain communication.
- Incorporating user (child) input ensures more effective augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies.
- This research supports the use of ARASAAC symbols for pediatric pain communication based on child preference.
Abstract:
Children who are hospitalized may sometimes not be able to communicate verbally to self-report their pain or other symptoms due to medical conditions, medical interventions, or communication difficulties. As such, these children may need other means, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies, in this case, graphic symbols, to express their pain-related experiences and receive applicable treatment. Choosing suitable graphic symbols to represent pain-related words contributes to the effective use and implementation of visual support. This study explored the preferences of 6.0-9.11-year-old (years; months) children with typical development regarding graphic symbols to represent pain-related words. These symbols were selected from two commonly used and widespread symbol resources: Picture Communication Symbols (PCS®) and Aragonese Portal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ARASAAC) symbols. A descriptive, quantitative study design was employed, including a total of 30 typically developed South African children. Data were collected by means of an electronic questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Probability values were determined and predictions, as well as inferences, were implemented. The results showed that the children preferred ARASAAC symbols to represent most pain-related words (p < 0.001). It is important to consider stakeholders' (in this case, children's) input on their preferences in designing communication support to enable participation during the clinical decision-making process.
